Please find attached soundbite in English by Cornél Dreyer.
Please find attached soundbite in Afrikaans by Cornél Dreyer.
- Decisions taken after the loss of quorum at the Special Council Sitting are invalid and undermine good governance,
- Appointments made in the absence of quorum raise serious concerns about accountability and compliance with legislation,
- Urgent corrective action needed to restore the integrity of council processes.
The Democratic Alliance (DA) is deeply concerned by developments during the Special Council Sitting of the Ngaka Modiri Molema District Municipality held on 4 June 2026, which exposed serious governance failures and growing instability within Council.
While Council successfully adopted the municipality’s Budget and Integrated Development Plan (IDP) with a lawful quorum present, proceedings thereafter descended into disorder following the removal of a councillor from the chamber and the subsequent departure of several councillors.
As a result, Council no longer had the required quorum to continue conducting business. Despite objections raised regarding the absence of quorum, proceedings continued and several senior appointments were subsequently considered and approved.
The DA maintains that decisions taken without a legally constituted quorum are open to serious challenge and risk undermining the legitimacy of Council’s decisions.
Of particular concern is that some of the appointments relate to officials who have previously been linked to findings contained in an independent investigation report dealing with governance and compliance concerns within the municipality.
The DA believes that municipalities can only rebuild public trust when appointments are made through lawful, transparent, and accountable processes that place the interests of residents above factional or political considerations.
The events of 4 June raise serious questions about adherence to Council rules, compliance with legislation, and the commitment of municipal leadership to transparent governance.
Residents of the Ngaka Modiri Molema District deserve a municipality focused on service delivery, financial stability, and accountability, not one consumed by internal disputes and procedural irregularities.
The DA has formally recorded its objections and will continue to pursue all available oversight mechanisms to ensure that Council processes remain lawful, transparent, and accountable.
The municipality cannot afford governance instability at a time when communities are demanding improved service delivery, responsible leadership, and effective administration.
The DA calls on municipal leadership to urgently address these concerns, restore confidence in Council processes, and ensure that all future decisions are taken in full compliance with applicable legislation and the municipality’s Standing Rules.